The Comics Run: October 21, 2013

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It's a big week for the smaller publishers.

By Jesse Schedeen

There are plenty of good comics coming out this week. That tends to be true every week. But this is the rare Comics Run to not feature a single Marvel title. You could say that this is a very Marvel-less lineup, if you enjoy terrible puns. Not that Marvel doesn't have plenty of worthwhile books coming out (the penultimate chapter of Battle of the Atom, Uncanny Avengers, and Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man among them). But this week is really a chance for smaller publishers like Dark Horse, IDW, and Image to shine. We're getting a new Conan mini-series, promising new creator-owned books from the likes of Kelly Sue DeConnick and Ed Brubaker, and the long-awaited return of Samurai Jack.

No doubt you have your own opinions on what's hot this week, so take the opportunity to strike up a lively conversation in the comments section below.

I wouldn't say Geoff Johns has "made Aquaman cool again," because he was always cool, but he's certainly made it easier for the average reader to pick up an Aquaman comic and come to that conclusion. Sadly, all good things must end, and Johns will be leaving Aquaman in a few months. Those hoping he would remain on the series as long as he did The Flash or Green Lantern will have to content themselves with the knowledge that we got two good years (and that Jeff Parker has been tapped to replace Johns).

In the meantime, Johns looks to be ending his run with a bang. This issue kicks off his climactic storyline, "Scourge of the Seven Seas." It's the culmination of everything Johns has been building up in terms of Arthur's legacy as a king, his relationship with his supporting cast, and his rogues gallery. And it's the last issue before next month's big finale.

Batman vs. Killer Croc Statue (2nd Edition) - $299.95

By Ray Villafane | DC

You may recognize Ray Villafane as that guy who unveils some incredibly detailed and kick-ass pumpkin carvings every Halloween. But he also sculpts a lot of superhero statues for companies like DC Collectibles and Bowen Designs. Easily one of his best statues is the Batman vs. Killer Croc statue from DC's Classic Confrontations line. The original version is still one of the most awe-inspiring Batman statues money can buy. Unfortunately, you need a lot of money to actually buy it. The statue has been sold out for years and can be tough to track down for under four figures on eBay.

The good news for collectors (unless you already own one and are a stickler for resale value) is that DC is re-releasing the statue. Other than the repainted cape and cowl for Batman, this re-release is pretty much identical to the original. It's still a terrific sculpt, and it spotlights a Batman villain who rarely seems to get any love on the collectible market amid all the Joker and Catwoman products. This will probably be your last chance to own the statue for a halfway reasonable price. If DC's past re-releases are any indication, it won't be long before the statue sells out again and becomes nearly as expensive as the original.

Conan and the People of the Black Circle #1 - $3.50

By Fred Van Lente & Ariel Olivetti | Dark Horse

It's always good to inject a franchise with new blood and new creative talent every now and then. Dark Horse has succeeded in revitalizing the Conan franchise by putting Brian Wood in charge of the ongoing Conan the Barbarian series and pairing him with nontraditional Conan artists like Becky Cloonan and James Harren. And now they have another talented writer/artist duo ready to further shake up Conan's world - Fred Van Lente and Ariel Olivetti.

Conan and the People of the Black Circle is adapted directly from one of Robert E. Howard's original novellas, one that is widely considered among Howard's best. Like many of Dark Horse's Conan minis, it's set well after the events of the ongoing series, allowing readers a glimpse of a different period in Conan's colorful life. We have no doubt Van Lente will do right by this classic tale, and Olivetti was born to paint Conan. What's not to love?

Last week brought us Justice League of America #24, which explored how DC's mightiest heroes are reacting to the rise of the Crime Syndicate. This week we get to see the other two sides of the equation. Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis continue their Justice League run by shifting focus directly to the Crime Syndicate (hence the play on the cover to Justice League #1). Johns has indicated that this arc will give us origins stories for key characters and shed more light on the mysteries alluded to in Forever Evil. It also sounds like this issue will focus on the recently rejuvenated Black Adam as he defends Kahndaq from the Crime Syndicate.

Justice League Dark, meanwhile, deals squarely with John Constantine. Appropriately, he was the only Justcie Leaguer to escape the Crime Syndicate's warpath unharmed. But he may come to regret that characteristic stroke of luck this time. Expect this issue to start the build-up towards the massive "Forever Evil: Blight" crossover that kicks off in December and unites JL Dark with Constantine's solo series, Trinity of Sin: Pandora and Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger.

Pretty Deadly #1 & Velvet #1 - $7.00

By Kelly Sue DeConnick & Emma Rios/Ed Brubaker & Steve Epting | Image

At this point, the Image Expo is like comic book Christmas. Every year they roll out announcement after announcement involving popular creators coming into the fold to weave new creator-owned tales. For anyone who believes in the adage "Follow creators, not characters," this is a great week to be a comic book fan. Image is kicking off two new series that reunite some very memorable creative teams from Marvel.

Ben might have a differing opinion, but I feel that Osborn: Evil Incarcerated is Kelly Sue DeConnick's best work at Marvel so far. And I think most would agree that Ed Brubaker's long Captain America run is his definitive Marvel series. So it's pretty exciting to see DeConnick re-team with Osborn artist Emma Rios and Brubaker hook back up with Steve Epting, the artist who defined the look of Brubaker's Captain America in those crucial first few years. Pretty Deadly is a Wild West comic that's being billed as equal parts Sandman and Preacher (a winning combination if ever there was one). Meanwhile, Velvet sees Brubaker and Epting doing what they do best - exploring the dark, shadowy world of spycraft and espionage. Both books sound well worth the $3.50 asking price.

Samurai Jack #1 - $3.99

By Jim Zub & Andy Suriano | IDW

When IDW first announced they had scored the license for Cartoon Network's original animated programming, Samurai Jack was the first series that came to mind. The show was a great showcase for Genndy Tartakovsky's brand of storytelling unique animation style. Unfortunately, like a lot of shows on Cartoon Network not named "Adventure Time," it was canceled before Tartakovsky could give his wandering hero the true finale he deserved. But comics are increasingly becoming the place to turn to continue unfinished TV sagas. And so it is with Samurai Jack.

IDW's new series is essentially Samurai Jack: Season 5. It picks up where the TV series left off, as Jack discovers a mystical artifact known as the Rope of Eons that may be the key to finally returning him to his own time. Luckily, IDW didn't turn to any random group of creators to helm the series. Jim Zub of Skullkickers fame is scripting the book, while Samurai Jack veteran/character designer Andy Suriano is drawing. Tartakovsky himself is providing covers. His support alone should encourage any fan of the show to give this comic a look.